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Old 12-12-2016, 06:52 AM   #1
Hamsterita
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Default New set up and cage clean

Hi!!!

I should clean Blacky''s cage soon but I want to add another floor to his tank, a bigger sand bath,more substrate and readjust the distribution the least possible to be able to fit everything , so I was wondering how to do it trying to minimize the stress. Is it better to clean first and then make the changes? Is it better to arrange the new set up and clean the cage later? Or should I do it all together?

Thanks!!
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Old 12-12-2016, 08:51 AM   #2
Hammy992
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Default Re: New set up and cage clean

Hey

I would say it really depends on how Blacky usually responds to things being cleaned or added to his cage. Some hamsters don't mind so much and are curious, others have a meltdown if even one toy is out of place.

How long has it been since Blacky's last full cage clean? If you just need to replace the stinky substrate and clean his pee corner etc then you might get away with making the changes all at once. If you plan on giving the cage a good scrub however it might be a bit too much for him to deal with in one go.

Even on a full clean i always try to salvage enough hamstery smelling (but not peed on) substrate to add as the top layer of new bedding so they are not losing all their scent at once. Some people even find that cleaning the cage 1/3 or half at a time reduces stress and helps them to feel more at ease with the routine, which also comes in handy when you want to add new toys and chews into the mix.
I also try and retain as much of the nesting material as possible. If its not wet, smelly or harboring a grotty food stash i pretty much leave it well alone. I do replace the food if its been in there a while though.

When i need to make a lot of changes in a short space of time I tend to cut right back on the fresh food for a few days after, just to make sure they don't get any tummy upsets.

If you want to change up the layout make sure all the main things - bed, wheel, food and water are all left in the same spot. If that won't work then try to keep it as close as possible.
Any toys that need a wipe down perhaps leave that for another day when hes had time to settle in; the more things in the cage that still have his scent on them the better since this helps them navigate their way around. You could also take some of his old bedding and rub that on any new platforms or items you're adding into the cage, to try and make it smell more familiar. If the sand in his current bath is still pretty clean you can use that in his new one too.

However you choose to do it, i hope it all goes well and Blacky likes his new things
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Old 12-12-2016, 08:57 AM   #3
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Default Re: New set up and cage clean

The changes don't really sound like the kind of thing you can do in stages, I;m guessing that if you add a shelf then you need to rearrange things anyway so I'd be inclined to just go for it & do it all at once, as long as you keep some old substrate & nest material so Blacky has his own familiar smell on things he should be ok.
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Old 12-13-2016, 03:58 AM   #4
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Default Re: New set up and cage clean

Hammy992 the "last full cage clean" was about a month and a half. Actually it wasn't a full cage clean, it was a cage change. I put him on a tank. Before that I had to fully clean the tank because It was used as an aquarium before and it was stored on a storage room for a while and it was really dirty. I kept almost all the substrate and the bedding and the change was made without big issues.

I wanted to do the next one the next week or in two weeks, but as I said, I want to add some platforms to the cage and that's why I was asking if I should do it all together or I should clean first, and the changes later or viceversa.

He reacts differently to different changes. He didn't bother at all about some changes that I did in the past (moving toys like bendy bridges or when put his sand bath permanently on the cage), but he isn't very happy with others (sometimes I have to remove his wheel because sometimes he decides to use it as a place to hoard and then he uses it, and the tank is in my room and I can't sleep with the rattle-wheel, obviously he doesn't like that).

cypher actually I think that I could do the changes in stages.
This is more or less the actual set up. I removed some toys and he built an open nest next to the wheel



And this is an schematic of the changes, I could do the left side and the right side in different stages



But I think that you didn't understand me, maybe I explain it in the wrong way, I was asking how to combine the changes with the cage clean.

I'm going to keep almost all his bedding (I don't think it smells, maybe I will remove the bedding that's directly in contact with his food if the bedding stinks) and I'm going to keep almost all the substate, but I want to add more to raise his depth.

SOOOO, what do you think guys?
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Old 12-13-2016, 04:09 AM   #5
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Default Re: New set up and cage clean

If you're planning on keeping most of the substate & nest then he shouldn't be bothered by the cleaning aspect (do you mean just clean the tank itself?) then if you are worried the changes may upset him a bit then it could be best to do it in stages & do the clean at the same time so he can gradually get used to things.
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Old 12-13-2016, 04:16 AM   #6
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Default Re: New set up and cage clean

Quote:
Originally Posted by cypher View Post
If you're planning on keeping most of the substate & nest then he shouldn't be bothered by the cleaning aspect (do you mean just clean the tank itself?) then if you are worried the changes may upset him a bit then it could be best to do it in stages & do the clean at the same time so he can gradually get used to things.
Yep, I want to clean the tank itself. The crystal on the corner where he stores his food is dirty, blurry and sticky. And I want to empty all the tank to be able to check more carefully If there's anything wrong (I'm paranoid with moth larvae). Then, refill it, with the same substrate and a little bit more.

Ok, so maybe you're right and the best thing to do is to clean and change the right side (for example), wait a little bit, and then change the left side.
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Old 12-13-2016, 04:25 AM   #7
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Default Re: New set up and cage clean

Are those rope toys still in there?If so,they should go.Cotton ropes are not safe,and just like cotton fluff can cause digestive blockages and tangle around limbs
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Old 12-13-2016, 04:58 AM   #8
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Default Re: New set up and cage clean

Quote:
Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams View Post
Are those rope toys still in there?If so,they should go.Cotton ropes are not safe,and just like cotton fluff can cause digestive blockages and tangle around limbs
Nop, as soon as I noticed that they were cotton like I removed them. Thanks for the advice anyway!
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Old 12-13-2016, 05:01 AM   #9
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Default Re: New set up and cage clean

At the very least hopefully it helps others then if they're using or thinking about using such things!It is very good that you already figured that out though
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Old 12-13-2016, 12:36 PM   #10
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Default Re: New set up and cage clean

Ok - I just read Blacky's thread about the larvae, so I can understand why you need to do the cage clean. If it hadn't been for that I was going to say - make the changes and just spot clean. It's a tricky one - the change probably will upset him - and might set taming back a bit - but he'll settle again and taming will just take a bit longer.

If you are still worried about the moth larvae aspect then it will need a full clean. I cleaned the inside of my cage with 50/50 white vinegar and water and also poured boiling water over it too (not sure if that's adviseable with a glass tank!) Make sure you clean well in the crevices/corners of the tank where the sealant is - a toothbrush might help for those bits.

So yes on this occasion you would need all new substrate and washing the plastic items. The moth business is a total pain. I think personally I would leave the set up as it is for now and do the big clean. And patiently wait to change the set up!

Part of the reason I say that is you want to be sure you're on top of the moth larvae before adding anything new, as well as the change aspect for Blacky. Hopefully you will be on top of it with the hoard and substrate removed, but if you find you get any more larvae, you may need to sterilise or replace the wood items. Fingers crossed that isn't necessary.

If the current main concern is about where he is nesting you could make a small change after the cage clean - like put the house in a different place, or trying a different house - a shoebox cardboard house eg. Easily replaceable!
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